I am the LORD your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy (Leviticus 11:44 NIV). The Lord Himself speaks to you today and makes the appeal for you to consecrate yourself and be holy because He is Holy. The Hebrew writer urges us to “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14 NKJV). You may be asking yourself the question, “How do I do this?” The answer is…..
Teach me your way, Lord, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name (Psalm 86:11 NIV). The book of Proverbs chapter 9:10 tells us that the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One brings understanding. In order for us to rely upon God and trust that He will be faithful, we need to know who He is and what His promises are. …..
My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God (Psalm 84:2 NIV). Oh how marvelous it is to spend every waking moment in the presence of the Living God, worshipping Him, adoring Him and honoring Him in everything we do! My soul craves continually more of Him. All day long, I am consumed by Him. My heart and my flesh cry out for more of Him, to…..
How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! (Psalm 119:103 NKJV). The words of God are sweet to the taste, music to the ears, food to the hungry and water to the dry and thirsty soul. They bring joy to those who delight daily in them and give light for their paths. The words of God are rich, powerful and sharp and give life to all those who meditate on them continually. Happy are…..
Can any good thing come out of losing your home and having no other choice but to live in a group home? Can one ever bounce back after sinking so deep in poverty, hopelessness and despair? How does one bounce back after having one’s pride so deeply wounded and one’s head hanging down in shame? Is there any reason to even hope for the future? Oh yes, there is! There are a million reasons to hope for a future filled with…..
I was totally unprepared and very devastated when I learned of my firstborn’s special needs. I didn’t know how to take care of a child with Down syndrome and a heart disease and I ached for her and what she would endure in life as a result of her disability. Despite her diagnosis, I looked at Brenda and saw beauty and perfection. She was a beautiful and precious bundle of joy, a gift from God that was simultaneously bitter and…..
Growing up on a farmland in a small community where everyone knew each other and shared generously with one another never prepared me for the harsh realities of life in the big wide world. Twenty years ago when I ventured out on my own and found myself pregnant and alone in a foreign country, then homeless with a one-month-old infant who was diagnosed with Down syndrome and a heart disease at birth, I was suddenly plunged into a world I…..
“Does Jesus hear and answer us when we pray?” This question popped up in Bible Study one Sunday morning. My immediate response was, “Yes, He does!” Having seen Jesus in many visions over the preceding three years and receiving answers to my many prayers, I couldn’t possibly respond any other way. Then suddenly, like a bolt of lightning, a fellow believer hit me with two very thought-provoking questions. “It is easy for you to say yes, He does, because you…..